Number: RL34339
Title: Coastal Zone Management: Background and Reauthorization Issues
Authors: Harold F. Upton, Resources, Science, and Industry Division 
Abstract: Congress has reauthorized or amended this act eight times since 1972, responding to changing issues combined with a continuing interest in assisting states to manage their coastal resources. Participants also have adjusted their programs to reflect their changing priorities. Since 1999, when the most recent reauthorization expired, Congress repeatedly has considered, but not enacted, reauthorization language. Reauthorization has proven difficult, in part, because the numerous stakeholders (broadly consisting of three groups: participants; use and development interests; and environmental interests) have divergent views about possible changes to the current approach and about which topics should be emphasized or eliminated from the purview of coastal management. Since the law expired in 1999, the context in which reauthorization legislation could be considered continues to change. These changes include events (such as Hurricane Katrina in 2005), new information (such as knowledge about places in coastal waters where biological activity ceases during some seasons, called "dead zones"), trends (such as rising energy prices), climate change, and implementation of other federal programs addressing coastal topics. Two reauthorization bills have been introduced in the 110th Congress, S. 1579, the Coastal Zone Enhancement Reauthorization Act of 2007, and H.R. 5451, the Coastal Zone Reauthorization Act of 2008. Both bills would increase authorization levels for the Coastal Zone Management Program.
Pages: 24
Date: June 20, 2008